About Us
4WD Southern Explorer is a family owned and operated business run by Adin May and Jackie Sly. Based in Arrowtown New Zealand, we take particular pride living in a small town, being involved at many levels with our friends and neighbours in the community. Here we put a face on 4WD Southern Explorer and show our true contribution to our community and the environment.

Our philosophy is to utilise 4WD vehicles to access the regions amazing scenery, where you can choose to enjoy the comfort of our vehicles, or for the more active get involved with options to walk, hike, bike, fish or even camp overnight. We are "Driven by Adventure" around the wild high country areas of the Queenstown and Southern Lakes District to provide easy, interactive and professional scenic tours that everybody can enjoy.

Our community involvement includes:

4WD Southern Explorer supports Adin's commitment as a Senior Fire Fighter and Emergency Response Driver with the Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade. He is also a member of the Wakatipu Rural Fire Authority and a volunteer with the Wakatipu Search and Rescue.

Business Operation Responsible Tourism Pledge:

We recognise the paradox of visiting national parks and areas of high natural and environmental value, while managing these areas preservation for future generations. With this in mind we pledge to operate in a manner that is responsible for the environment, our community and our clients.

We will achieve this by providing a high level of personal customer service to small groups interested in experiencing locations of natural, historical and recreational benefit. We would like to avoid the rush in rush out syndrome where clients do not have time to ‘connect’ with their environment. By providing hiking and overnight camping opportunities we believe clients will have the time to relax and reflect, allowing visitors to genuinely experience these natural areas and learn greater appreciation for the importance of these areas in terms of conservation and management. We will also undertake careful management of our resources to implement practises that result in the efficient use of water, energy and the reduction of waste.

We have implemented a number of strategies to reduce our environmental foot print and to be a Responsible Tourism Operator. These include:

1. Were possible we don't put roof racks or bull bars on our vehicles as this has a direct increase in fuel consumption. We will choose performance and function over accessories added for cosmetic looks every time.

2. Drive easy policy, this means we don't accelerate or brake hard. We drive with consideration for our passengers and other road users. This improves fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles and the environment.

3. Regular maintance on our vehicles ensures they are performing at their best.

4. We are currently investigating using bio fuels and conversion of our vehicles.

Recycling

1. We use recyclable containers and food products that are not individually wrapped where possible to reduce our waste.

2. We have a recycling program for all recyclables.

3. What we carry in, we carry out, that includes grey water where possible. In fact we don't even like leaving foot prints and wheel marks behind!

A visit to the Land Rover factory in Solihull, England in June 2009 helped us learn about Land Rovers efforts to protect the environment and witness first hand the efforts and commitment put into building every Land Rover.


Growing up in New Zealand, you can't help but be...
DRIVEN BY ADVENTURE

Adin, a sixth generation New Zealander (left) is here photographed with his parents and brother on the Wanganui River in 1976.

"From an early age I was actively involved in outdoor recreation, and my earliest memories are pounding across Wellington harbour in Dad's jet boat, hanging on for dear life. In fact Mum used to win the club slalom race year after year, she could really handle that jet boat! Dad often took us kids out into the bush, and we visited his old stomping ground in the Ruahines often. As soon as I could drive at the age of 15 (that was the driving age in the old days!) I would head into the Tararua and Rimitaka Forest Parks on overnight hiking trips either by myself or with friends. In the 1990's I got involved in mountain bike racing, and working at Hutt City Cycles, we would hit the local 'King of the Forest' race circuit and travel all over the country for the New Zealand national series — go team F.U.B.A.R! During this time I helped set up the Hutt Valley Mountain Bike Club, but soon got involved with higher adventures!"

Muddy times, after the Tunnel Gully mountain bike race in the early 1990's. This area is where Riverndale was later filmed in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

"Paragliding was my new sport, and while studying a Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Lincoln University, I constantly flew the Port Hills and Southern Alps. From being elected as the Lincoln University Alpine Club President and leading club tramping trips, we had some great adventures." Adin May.



Paragliding since 1995, Adin spent seven years flying commercial tandems in Queenstown.

"Although I've been involved at the sharp end of adventure tourism, you don't have to be going 'at mach ten with your hair on fire' (quote from Top Gun movie) to enjoy the best of New Zealand and learn a little along the way" Adin May.

Commitment to Conservation. Adin taking a breather during the mop up of a wild fire that went through native tussock land behind the Remarkables, Queenstown in 2007.